Page 115 of Rule 1: Never Accidentally Marry Your Teammate
This is difficult for him too.
I sigh. “I guess I should thank you. I’m glad you’re looking out for him.”
Troy nods, then exits.
I stare at the door long after he leaves willing him to come back and tell me that he’s taking me to Noah and that everything will be okay.
Finally, I grab my phone to text Noah.
Me: Can we talk?
Message: read
Me: I’m sorry. I never meant for the letter to leak that way. I thought the process would be quiet...I know this damages your reputation. I feel terrible.
Three dots appear, and my heart leaps.
My Sweet Puck:I thought we had a year. I didn’t know you wanted an annulment.
Me: I don’t want to force us to be together.
Message: read
Me: I really like you.
My Sweet Puck:Same.
I scrunch my forehead. If he likes me too, why isn’t he here?
Me: I never wanted to hurt you. Do you want to come back?
I hold my breath.Please say yes.
My Sweet Puck:It’s okay.
I frown at the phone. Obviously things aren’t okay. If things were okay, Noah would be here, ideally with his legs wrapped around my waist.
My Sweet Puck: You have been unimaginably generous and protective. I enjoyed every day with you too. But now that everyone knows, we don’t have to go back to lying and pretending to be something we’re not. You can be free.
I stare at the phone, my heart pounding.
CHAPTER FIFTY-TWO
Noah
Today is one of those perfect, rare days in Boston when the sky is a crisp blue. It’s a perfect day for Finn to make B-roll for his vlog, and if this were last week, we would be wandering the city together, filming as the fall breeze rustles the towering maples that dot the Charles embankment and flings leaves of burnt orange, deep crimson, and soft yellow tumbling over the pavement.
But this is today, and everything is different. I inhale the musty scent of wet bark and grass, not yet buried by winter snow. I head with Troy and Luke to the arena and try to pretend I’m calm and happy and all the things I’m not. Tourists kayak on the Charles, and we stroll alongside them until we reach the Blizzards’ arena.
Finn didn’t contact me again yesterday.
And that’s what I wanted.
Unfortunately, today is not an optional training day; we play Colorado tonight.
The brick and glass structure has never looked so intimidating. My heart tightens, and a stone forms in my stomach.
I’m going to see Finn.
